Metal desk construction



l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I If' I I I l I I Nov. 22, 1927.

G. c. BRAINARD METAL`DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 9, 1925 5 sheets-,Sheet 2 I I I I I I I I I I j l I I I I I I I I I I I I I (0 il .9

,1 74 7- yvuaaoc George CEBIT-aina@ Nom-2z, 1.927, 41,649,805 v G. QBRAINARD METAL DESK CONSTRUCTIN l `Filed Nov. 9. 1925 5 Sheets-sheet 3 v inventan @my GU) Brwmard,

Nov. 22, 19,27. G. c. BRAINARD METAL DESK CONSTRUGTIN Filed Nov. 9, 1925 5 Shee'bS--Shee4 4.

Nov. 22, 1927. 1,649,805

G. c. BRAINARD METAL 'DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 9, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ligm l;

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,649,805 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. BRAINARD, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGO TO THE GENERAL FIRE- PROOFING COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWIT, OHIO, A CORPORATION, OF OHIO.

METAL DESK GONSTRUCILION.

Application filed November 9, 1925. Serial No. 67,896.

This invention relates to a system of construction for making metal desks involving the production, in an expcditiousand practical manner, of. a desk structure possessing exceptional strength and durability while at specifications or plans to provide desks of various sizes and types, for eXample desks of standard oilice type having one or more drawer units, typewriter desks, or combination office and typewriter desks and the like. lu that 'connection the, invention conteniplates a system of fabrication which enables the various units to be assembled with great of desk that may be constructed in accordfacility,thereb y not only enhancing production. but at the same time adapting the desks, if conditions make it desirable, to be shipped in knoclcdoivn' condition to be 'set up at the destination. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a desk construction having a novel top which constitutes the base upon which the rest of the structure is fabricated and assembled. That is to say, it is proposed to provide a fiat sheet metal top which is adequately braced to give rigidity and solidarity, and which constitutes the main anchoring bare or carrier which can be laid in an inverted .position and is adapted to have the entire desk structure built-up thereon and locked thereto while renniining in that position.

further object of the invention is to provide a metal desk construction having the general features4 and characteristics above pointed out'and wherein the drawer pedestals cooperate with the legs and with the reinforcement of the table top to act as a stitfening brace thereby materially strengtheningl the entire structure and adding to its stability.

Another general object of the invention is to provide a system of desk construction wherein all of the parts or units depend upon the table top for their rigid support and are so arrai'iged and related that if one part or unit should happen to be damaged in service that part or unit can be readily removed by the'. use of a screw-driver anda small Wrench and can be replaced by a corresponding part or unit. Also the different parts or units of this desk structure can be painted or finished according to various color schemes wit-hout digressing from the design or method of manufacture, the result being thatthe invention permits of manufacturing a large assortment of desks and tables under economical and facile conditions thereby widening the range of manufacture of these articles without increasing overhead or fabricating costs.

The essential features of the invention involving the special objects above indicated are necessarily susceptible of a Wide range of structural modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type ance with the present system of fabrication.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the stiffened and reinforced table top shown in the inverted position in which it is placed on a stand or Work horses to providethe base upon which the rest of the desk structure is fabricated or builtfup, the inverted fabricating position of the parts being also shown in the succeeding Figures 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Figure 3' is a view similar to FigureQ illustrating the fabricating steps of installing the legs, end panels and draw units or pedestais.

Figure -if is a. vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-l of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail bottom perspective view of one of the corners of the top construction, a portion thereof being broken awayto show the manner of inserting and fastening a leg to the vinside flange of the apron or frame carried by the top.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the hollow leg members.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective View illus* trating the manner of applying the end panels tothe legs and top.

Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to Figure 7 showing the additional step in the system which involves the connection of the drawer pedestal withthe top and leg memfigures of the drawings.

` edge framing fos As above pointed out the present s ystem of desk construction involves the making of different combinations and arrangements of legs drawer pedestals and panels and to ren er them interchangeable according to the'ty e of desk` or table to be built, but 1n all ein odiments of they invent-ion the different interchangeable stock .parts and units are adapted to be assembled and fastened to each other and to the table top while the latter 1s in inverted position on a work bench or horses and constitutes a bottom or` foundation on and from which proceeds the work of fabricating.

The primary feature in the new desk construction as well as in the system of fabricating the same is the table top designatedgenerally by the reference letter T. This table top is of speclal construction to provide adequate stiifening a'idreinforcement not only 'to its edge portions, but .also throughout its lentire extent both longitudinall and transversely. That is accomlis ed byconstructing the table top of a at metal sheet indicated b the numeral 1, the saine being of the desired or required size and havin rigidly united thereto an esignated Generally by the erence letter A. This edge framing surrounds the entire top sheet just inside of the bottom edge portion i thereof andl preferably is of a tubular or hollow form consisting of an attaching base 2 and the inside and out` side apron pieces 3 anda respectively, which apron pieces are in substantially parallel relation and are respectively provided with' the inturned su porting flanges 5 and 6 res ectively. It 1s preferable 1n this part of t e `construction to rigidi unite the edge framing A to the bottom e ge portion of the top sheet 1 by a suitablewelding operation as `by the spotweldi-ng `I lainly indicated in F1 2 of the drawings. lso in constructing t e edge framin A itw is preferable to rovide an oll'set 8 in its attaching base 2 orming an edge pocket 9 which extends entirel -around the bottom edge of the table top or the purpose of receivinur a bead strip B as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It will be further observed, particularly from Figs. 4;, 5 and 10 of the drawings that the inside flanged apronpiece 3 of theliollow edge framing A is of a greater depth than the flanged outside apron piece 4 corre` sponding to the depth or width of the flanged stii'ening members S which are located in and on the intermediate part of the top sheet inside of the boundaries of thc said edge framing. Preferably a pluralityA Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings, thereby making an integral rectangular frame surrounding the edge of the table having the effect of very substantially stilfening and strenffthening the edgeportion of the table wrhile at the same tii'ne providing an' attaching base for the legs, panels and otherparts of the structure herein referred to and by reason of utilizing a pluralityof Z-plates or equivalent stilfening members S throughout the mid-section of the table-tcp or top sheet 1. These stiiiening members contribute to the strength and stiffness of the table top,

lhaving the effect of resisting any load; or

bendiner strains which may be imposed on the tabtle top time resenting through its attaching flanges ll points of attachment to which may be secured the drawer pedestals `or units. The

table top structure as thus completed consti- -tutes, as said before, the main base upon which the rest of the structure is built-up,K while the said base is supported ina flat lhorizontal position on a low work-bench or upon work-horses which will enable the workman to have ready access to all parts of the structure as he fabricates the same.

rlhe lefr members L shown in Figure 6 are preferably of tubular formation and one end L thereofis adapted to receive a novel footconstruction F, the same formin'r the subject of the `application of J. A. itch., Serial No. 732,468, while the opposite end L2 is cut awayto provide the attaching ends 13 which are provided with fastening rcceiving openings V13 adapted to register with similar fastening receiving openings in the inner apron piece 3 therby to receive the bolts 14 or the equivalent fastenings;

As will be observed from Figure 5, for example, the said attaching ends 13 lit against the corner formed by theinner apron piece 3 while the cut away portion of the leg rests upon the inturned flanges 5 thereof. The inside faces of the leg members are when in use and at thesame llf) provided with the openings 15 and 16, the former adapted to register with similar openings in the flanges 17 of the end panels E to panels E are assembled as shown in Fig. 7

i it will be apparent that the same are adequately braced by the gusset-like plate or end panel, thereby imparting a bracing effect to the leg members across or transversely of the table top. d

After the end panels E have been con` nected to thelegs as above described the drawer pedestal l? may be placed in position. As will be observed from Figures 8, .9 and 10 for example, the said drawer pedestals l) preferably comprise a box-like casing 'whose walls are rigidly connected and braced by the corner or fillet braces 19 (Fig. 9). The side walls 2O of the pedestals which are adjacent to the leg members are provided with fastening receiving openings for registeringl with the openings 1G in the leg members, thereby permitting' of utilizing the fastenings 21 (Fig. 10) for connecting the inside walls of the panels with the legs, thereby further b racing the legs and adding to the rigidity of the structure. The tpp edges of the side walls of the pedestal casing are pro' vided with the flanges :22 having openings for registering with openings 22, in the flanges 11 of the Z-shape'd stiifening bars S to receive the fastenings 23, thereby connecting the `top of the pedestal with each one of the stiii'ening bars, and further increasing the rigidity and stability of the structure. In connection with the flanged stiffening plates or bars S it will be observed that the bottom attaching flanges 11 thereof are punched or drilled with an extra number of holes or openings S22 to adapt the same for having fastened thereto different sizedfpedestais, thus rendering a single tablel top structure available for use with different types and sizes of drawer pedestals.

lVhen the pedestals P are secured at the upper edges thereof to the stilfeningbars S, and also to the leg members.L it will be apparent that the pedestal itself will greatly strengthen and stiffen the leg` connection witlrthe table top. As may be observed from Figure 1, the pedestals P in the type of desk shown may be connected at the rear by a rear panel R which is a flanged member similar to the end panels E and is connected to the inside rear edges of the casings which form the pedestals by suitable fastenings, or other securing means.

The inside walls of the pedestal members may be provided with drawer guides G and drawer guide carriers G as shown in Figure 10. Also the edges of the walls of the pedestal members at the open side of the ped estal may be provided with an ornamental channel shaped wall 24 as shown in Figures i, s and 1o.

W hen the structure has been fabricated up to the point described the same may be turned to its right-side up position shown in Figure 1 and completed with such fittings and finishing touches that may be necessary in the process of putting out the desk or table.

ln connection with the finished product it will be observed by reference to Figure 11 that the upper face of the sheet metal top 1 is provided with a linoleum or equivalent covering C the outer edge of which is engaged by the angular bead strip B which extends' into the pocket S). This bead strip is held in the pocket by the combined locking and iinishing apron A2 whose locking flange 25 engages with bead strip-B to hold it in the pocket 9 while, the flange member 2G springs behind the edge of the flange G of the apron A thereby to hold the outer apron A in position. This edge construction is not claimed herein as it is described and claimed in detail-in the application of Fitch and Brainard Serial No. 703,185, filed March From' the foregoing it will be apparent that the leg members L and pedestals P may be made in accordance with predetermined specifications and when a` desk of a particu lar type is to be made the top T is fabricated to meet the requirements, and the leg' and pedestal members assembled thereon and secured in position. The assembling and locking of the iarious units in position is preferably ac-connvilished by the use of fast enings such as small screw bolts although'it will of course be understood that any desired fastening means may be` employed. How ever, with the construction and design of the parts shown in the drawings it will heapparent that the desks may be. made with great facility, .and when shipped in a knock-down condition can readily be assembled by unskilled perrtons with no difficulty.

Furthermore, the placing of the end panels and the pedestals in the manner shown greatly braces and strengthens the entire structure.

4Vithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of4 construction niay be resorted to, without departing lfrom the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

yI claim 1. A metal desk construction comprising` a top sheet having at its underside reinforcing elements throughout its length, leg members located at the corners of the structure and each fastened to a reinforcement, and

a-boxelikedrawer pedestal unit fastened to each'end pair of 'legs and also to the longit'udinal reinforcement for the top sheet thereby forming a rigid gusset bracing between the leg members and -the reinforced top structure. Y

2. A metal'desk construction comprising a top sheet having a reinforcing framing sur.

tened to said reinforcing members and also,

to said leg members. l. I i 4. A metal desk construction comprising i a top sheet, a reinforcing flanged ed e framing rigidl united with the bottom e ge porf i ltion of tie top sheet and including outer and inner apron pieces, leg members fastened to the inner apron pieces of said edge framing at the coiners thereof, and drawer pedestal units fastened to said ieg members and also to said inner apron piece of the edgel framing.

5. A metal desk construction comprising` -a top sheet, an edge framing rigidly unite with the top` sheet at the bottom ed e-portion thereof and including outer and inner apronl pieces, flan ed 'stiffening members rigidly united to t e underside of the. top sheet and extending longitudinally thereof inside of the edge framing,l leg members fastened to the inner apron piece of the edge framing at the-corners thereof and drawer pedestal units fastened'to 'the leg members and also tothe inner apron pieces andto the flanged stifening members.

6. A metal desk construction comprisinga reinforced top structure carrying a rectangular frame at its under side adjacent its edge, leg members fitted to the corners `0f said rectangular frame, and drawer pedestal -units secured at their upper fedges [to said frame and also connected at their sides with the le members.

7. Ametal desc construction 'comprising a top structure includingI a frame carried by the underside of the to adjacent the edg'e thereof, tubular leg -mem rs secured 'to the corners of said frame, stiifening members arranged within the frame and securedto vthe nogstructure, and drawer pedestal units secure at their upper edges to said stiffenf signature.

ing members and also secured at their sides to the leg members. 2 8. A metal deskconstruction comprising a top structure includingV a double apron ,65

-secured to the top structure adjacent the .stiifening bars arranged lengthwise .ofthe top structure and havingcertain of their vflan es secured thereto leg members secured i to t e' corners of said apron, and drawer edestal 'casings secured to the exposed anges of the stiffenin bars and also secured to the insides of t e leg members.

410. A metal desk contruction comprising a top structure including an apron secured to the to structure adjacent the edges thereof and orming a rigid -rectangular frame, leg members secured to the corners of said rectangular frame, fianged end panels secured to oppositefaces of the leg members, and drawer pedestal casings secured to the 'apron top structure and also to the leg members.

11. A lmetal desk'construction4 comprising `a sheetmetal to having stiifenin and reprising atop structure having edge and cen-l i tral reinforcement, vertical leg members at tached to the ed e reinforcement, and transversely disposed drawe'r edestal casiiigs j fastened `to the `central fremforceinent and also tothe vertical, leg members.

i3. A fabricated desk construction comprising a sheet metal top member, angular metallic ed e reinforcement forming a frame adjacent tie edges of the topmember, a plurality of straight reinforcin and stii- 115 ening members fitted to the meta top mem-j ber within the frame, and drawer pedestal casings fastened to the reinforcement of the to? structure `and also to the leg members. n testimony whereof I hereunto aix my 120 encuen c. BRAINARD. 

